LAKELAND, Fla. -- Seven years after Miguel Cabrera marked his Tigers debut in Spring Training with a home run, Yoenis Cespedes' first hit in a Detroit uniform also had a similar impact. He drove a grand slam down the left-field line in the fourth inning of the Tigers' Grapefruit League opener against the Orioles on Tuesday at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The Tigers scored 11 runs on just four hits over the first four innings, thanks to three hit batters and a handful of walks. Two of the hits, however, landed on the left-field berm. The biggest came from Cespedes, who nearly became the fourth batter hit instead.

In Grapefruit opener, Tigers show offensive might

Kinsler, Cespedes, Westlake each homer against Orioles

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Yoenis Cespedes' first hit as a Tiger, a fourth-inning grand slam, was one of three Detroit home runs amidst a flurry of walks and four hit batters during a wild Grapefruit League opener for Orioles pitching in a 15-2 Detroit win on Tuesday at Joker Marchant Stadium.

The Tigers scored more runs in eight innings Tuesday than they scored in last October's three-game American League Division Series sweep by the Orioles. None of them count toward Detroit's end goal, of course, but it provided at least a glimpse of the offensive energy the team added in the offseason in an effort to rebound in 2015.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Yoenis Cespedes believes he probably would've been here a few years ago for his first pro contract if not for a twist of fate. One bad step from Victor Martinez, one shift in priorities for the Tigers toward Prince Fielder to replace him, and Cespedes' journey from Cuba landed him in Oakland instead.

"Detroit was the team that was the most interested," Cespedes said Sunday through translator Aileen Villarreal.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Miguel Cabrera was not in Monday's lineup for the Tigers' unofficial Spring Training opener, a 12-2 victory against Florida Southern. He still managed to steal the show with his swing.

While Tigers players took pregame batting practice Monday morning, out came Cabrera onto the field, bat in hand, ready to join in. He ended up taking batting practice on the field for the first time this spring.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Justin Verlander's live batting practice sessions often include enough four-letter words to require at least a PG rating. He tends to be tough on himself, even in the early days of Spring Training.

That's what made his second live BP session so unusual Sunday afternoon. It was eerily quiet, at least from him. Except for an apology when he threw up-and-in on Anthony Gose, Verlander had barely a word of frustration. He'd get feedback on pitches, but he didn't blurt out much on his own.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- There's a voracious reader in the Tigers clubhouse. Wynton Bernard has always found books as a way to fill the free time in a Minor League season.

When he thinks of his situation, he thinks of The Alchemist, a bestselling novel about a boy who follows a recurring dream to leave home and travel the desert to the Pyramids in Egypt to seek fortunes.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Blaine Hardy was an unlikely story a year ago, brought to camp as a non-roster invitee and making enough of an impression to earn a midseason callup and a bullpen spot. He still had to overcome the disappointment of being left off the postseason roster.

As Spring Training games begin, the lefty has the best opportunity of his career in a Tigers bullpen, where the one open bullpen spot begs for a southpaw who can pitch multiple innings. Hardy is hoping to use the lessons he learned last year to earn it.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Kyle Ryan did not get a chance to hunt alligators in his native Polk County this offseason. The native of nearby Auburndale, Fla., did not get one of the limited alligator hunting permits the state approved. He has been hunting wild boar instead, going on a hunt as recently this week after a workout.

If the young left-hander can close out his spring by nabbing a spot on the Tigers' Opening Day roster, he'll be happy with his catch. There, too, he has had to make an adjustment.

Detroit led Majors in stolen bases last Spring Training, and green light is on again this year

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The green light is back on at Tigertown this spring. The man issuing it hopes he has more guys taking advantage of it.

Brad Ausmus' first Spring Training as Tigers manager last year might have been best known for the baserunning. The Tigers led the Majors in stolen bases (33) and attempts (47) last spring, nearly matching their totals from the entire 2013 regular season. The pace slowed a bit by last summer, but Detroit still finished seventh in the Majors and fourth in the American League with 106 steals, defying their longtime reputation on the basepaths.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- For the second time in three days, Victor Martinez made an early appearance at Tigers Spring Training without doing much activity. He won't have to wait long to come back and do something.

Martinez made the drive down Interstate 4 from his Orlando-area home Saturday morning for Photo Day. He hasn't yet been cleared for any baseball activities while he rehabs his surgically repaired left knee, working with a physical therapist near home.

Infielder, in Tigers camp on Minor League deal, also supplies Cabrera with T-shirts

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Don't be surprised to see Miguel Cabrera wearing his familiar Duquesne Baseball T-shirt again soon. He has a new shipment coming this weekend.

He wears them working out, around the clubhouse, anytime but game time. Never mind that Duquesne University hasn't fielded a baseball team since 2010. Cabrera has a hookup, and he's sitting across the clubhouse.

Tigers tab Melville, Lobstein to start first 2 spring games

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The day-in, day-out workout routine ends next week, when the Tigers start playing games and slotting pitchers. Tim Melville and Kyle Lobstein will be among the first.

Manager Brad Ausmus named Melville as his starter for Monday's exhibition against Florida Southern, followed by Lobstein to start Grapefruit League play against the Orioles on Tuesday. Both games are scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET starts at Joker Marchant Stadium.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- The Tigers had enough trouble with injuries last Spring Training that they could justifiably get nervous when Alex Avila had to sit out Friday's workout with back tightness. This injury, however, doesn't appear to be severe.

Manager Brad Ausmus said Avila, who had minor back issues last season as well, is considered day to day.

Tigers sign former first-round pick Perry to Minors deal

LAKELAND, Fla. -- For the third time in the past two months, the Tigers have brought back a former prospect, signing 2008 first-round pick Ryan Perry to a Minor League contract.

Perry, Detroit's top pick in the '08 First-Year Player Draft, was released last July after 2 1/2 seasons in the Nationals organization. He ended up having surgery to repair a hip injury after pitching in just a handful of games at Double-A Harrisburg last year, allowing five runs on nine hits over eight innings.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Miggy's injury rehab continuing to progress

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Miggy updates his health status 1:22

Peter Gammons talks to Miguel Cabrera about how the injury in 2014 affected his swing and returning to Spring Training healthier this season

By Adam Berry
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MLB.com |

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Miguel Cabrera has been hitting and throwing at Joker Marchant Stadium since arriving to Spring Training. He could begin working out at first base soon, too.

Cabrera, somewhat limited at the start of camp by his surgically repaired right foot, ran while carrying 65 percent of his body weight Wednesday, using the Alter-G anti-gravity treadmill the Tigers ordered for him.

Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Reliever Smith claimed on waivers by A's

V-Mart arrives at camp; Verlander, Price throw batting practice

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Joba rejoins the Tigers 1:50

Joba Chamberlain rejoined the Tigers in Lakeland, Fla., enjoying his time on the field with teammates Al Alburquerque and David Price

By Adam Berry
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MLB.com |

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Two days after designating Chad Smith for assignment, the Tigers lost the right-handed reliever to the Oakland A's on waivers.

Detroit designated Smith for assignment on Tuesday to make room for the return of reliever Joba Chamberlain, giving the club 10 days to trade, release or outright Smith. It took only two for Oakland to make a claim on the 25-year-old right-hander.

Former catcher Ausmus wants to put new stats to use throughout organization

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Brad Ausmus has been credited by a few different publications, including Baseball Prospectus, as one of the best pitch-framing catchers of his generation, if not all-time. If there's a skill to it, he should know.

Still, there are now readily available statistics, and Ausmus wants to put them to use -- not just in Detroit, but throughout the Tigers' organization.

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Joe Nathan's first Spring Training with the Tigers preceded the slow start that set up one of the first challenges of Brad Ausmus' managerial career.

"It was tough," Ausmus said of handling Nathan through last year's struggles, "but the truth is we really didn't have another [closer] option, you know? There wasn't somebody we could go to. Once we got [Joakim] Soria, Soria could have been a guy that we could have gone to. At that point, Joe had started to pitch better, and then Soria got hurt almost instantaneously anyway."

Glove love: Tigers try microwave, bat to break 'em in

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Andrew Romine is a candidate to fill Don Kelly's old role as the Tigers' superutility player. He has not yet reached Kelly replacement level on the number of gloves he carries around, having brought five to camp.

One of those is his middle-infield glove, the same glove Romine has used in games ever since he turned pro eight years ago.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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The Tigers share Lakeland with this one-eyed gator

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By Jason Beck / MLB.com |

Take a drive around Lakeland, Fla., and you'll find a history that goes beyond its nearly 80 years as the Spring Training home of the Detroit Tigers. Tigertown was built on the site of a flight academy for the U.S. Army Air Corps. Just a few miles away, Florida Southern College features several buildings designed by legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, more than any other site in the country.

And then there's the statue of Blinky, the one-eyed alligator that used to befriend onlookers in downtown Lakeland in the 1970s. And no, it's not the one that got Chubbs' hand in "Happy Gilmore."